Breaking news

Former soldier's cancer death sparks AMA calls for investigation into bomb signal jammer

Updated
Tue 11 Jun 2013, 6:39 PM AEST

Photo

The Australian Medical Association is calling for an investigation into bomb signal jammers. (file photo)

ADF: Andrew Hetherington

The Australian Medical Association wants an investigation into the military's use of a special bomb-jamming device after a former soldier died of cancer.

Kevin Dillon, 28, died after returning from Afghanistan, where he carried what is known as an electronic countermeasures (ECM) backpack.

The backpack contained radio transmitters, which are used to scramble the mobile phone signals insurgents use to detonate improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

AMA president Dr Steve Hambleton says there needs to be follow-up for soldiers who use them.

"These people have put their lives on the line for Australia," he said.

"If there is any concern, we should take it very seriously and have a look at it to make sure that our soldiers are safe, and if they're not, then they understand the risks because they will need follow-up."

But the Minister for Defence Science and Personnel, Warren Snowdon, says he believed the case is the first where a link between the devices and cancer has been alleged.

"There is no evidence that I am aware of that the equipment we use has given that outcome," he said.

"These are not the sort of radiowaves that you would expect to give people cancer, so I am surprised at the claim."

He says he has been advised by the Department of Veterans' Affairs that historically it has had no reports of cancer from soldiers using such devices.

I am surprised at the claim.

Warren Snowden, Defence minister

Mr Snowdon said if proper evidence emerged of a link, the department was open to investigating the claim.

The devices complied with Australian safety standards, he added.

Opposition spokesman Stuart Robert warned against jumping to early conclusions, but says the equipment concerns warranted examination.

"Reports suggesting the ECM systems used by our military forces in Afghanistan may cause cancer are naturally of concern," he said.

"However, we should not rush to premature conclusions before all the facts are known."